#angsty backstory?? in MY sonic the hedgehog rp reply... more likely than u think....

[starslung]

"I can’t have you flinching every time I shoot a gun in here."

SEND MORE MEMES!

it shouldn't be a surprise shadow noticed despite his attention seemingly being locked on the shooting range targets ahead of him, but finn still flushes, shame roiling in his stomach like bile. it's a small blessing his fur is dark enough to hide it, but he wishes he could suppress the flinches, too. wishes he could hide the tension in his shoulders, the quick, prey-like flick of his ears as shadow loads a new clip, the way his arms gravitate to cross in front of his chest, instinct geared toward self-protection despite there not being an active threat.

he's always worse the day after meeting with his father, always worse when he's lost sleep because he can't get the sound of slamming doors and toppled furniture and broken glasses and i didn't think i raised you to be this goddamn useless out of his mind. a repeating record of not enough, not enough, not enough playing until he finally starts to believe it himself, until he finally welcomes the sharp, familiar sensation of inadequacy like a slap across his face.

but that's not who he's supposed to be here. he's supposed to be better, he's supposed to be above it all. he's supposed to be enough, or at least pretend that he can be. the smile he sends shadow is brittle, thin as winter's first freeze across a pond. he forces his arms down, one hand planted at his hip, feigning nonchalance. "heh, not used to someone actually knowing how to handle one of those, that's all. the usual grunts they've got in here can barely get it loaded."